duanec

the first fish we landed was a decent brown... and we had to measure it for posterity, good thing we got this pic as butterfingers took over just after.

i don't disagree with that at all. but i have been on some salmon pools that made the Deerfoot-like traffic [good analogy] look like a garden party. there i witnessed a zero tolerance policy for those that did not follow the 'etiquette rules' [newbies like my first time were treated a little more gently, but after being educated you could expect to virtually banished], and people still caught fish under those heavy traffic conditions. i have run into issues with the pulling out right in front of you, or crossing the river to work a run you are approaching before you get there, as well as the guys drifting into you while you are wading. again, i seem to hope that it wasn't intentional, but clearly there are people that just don't give a damn [see also poachers and the garbage spreaders]. i don't know if i want to start throwing rocks, nor be the recipient of any, i have such poor aim...

probably a topic that's been covered before here...but interesting posts thru the Bow River Shuttles newsletters this week that is something i have observed myself develop over the years, but in the last few years i believe it's gotten worse... Quoting Rod H from the UK: Guides, whom I know are trying to make a living and do pay to provide their services, should really take a good long look at themselves. On Wednesday 30th July along with my buddy we floated from Policeman's Flats to McKinnon during the first four miles of the river out of Policeman's there were eight guided parties parked in hot spots, no one else could get in to fish these area's, this does not lend to harmony on the river. Further on down the river just past the Highwood confluence there were another two parties parked in two sweet hot-spots, they had been there sometime and remained for a further hour in those spots, again this does not lend to harmony on the river. i personally have run into similar rude and at times seemingly outright agressive behaviour from a few guides in the last few years, some of whom i recognize and can name. is it just me, or is the hogging of the sweet spots and the pulling out right in front of you or crossing the river to work a run you are approaching before you get there type of thing becoming MUCH more commonplace? now don't get me wrong, i do not intend to paint all guides with a single brush, some of the guides i've seen/used/know are extremely professional and are also advocates against this type of behaviour. and i also know that a number of the "problems" occur with other 'anyone can own a drift/pontoon/raft-types' like myself. this is of course not a problem specific to the Bow, but i know that in some quarters where local guides have formed an actual association of sorts [and got regulations in place as far as who gets to guide by meeting some requirements and some sort of professional code of conduct or the like] the nature of issues like this improves [but of course there are other problems then ]... i sincerely try to live by the 'do unto others' rule when i'm out there, either on shore or in my drift boat, and i screw up at times and crowd the guy around the corner i didn't see or get too close etc, but i always apologize and make an honest effort to learn from my mistakes, as the next time the roles could be reversed and it could be me having a boat criuse into the run i'm working.... anyone agree? disagree? love to hear your comments, but i'd also like to hear any suggestions on what can/should be done to improve this in the future.

i have owned a pair of Maui Jims for 7 yrs, there we not cheap but they double as my everyday [and i do mean everyday] sunglasses and i tend to take really good care of them. i think that's waht fishtales brought in. amortized over the past 7 yrs they were worth every penny. i love them but want to get a pr. of amber lens ones now as my grey lenses don't do as well in lower light. i checked out some oakley's that were really good and much less $$.

agree totally. my rookie year [actually 2 years] was a complete wash - i snagged one whitefish. i went on a lake trip year 2 with a group of friends of friends who were all well-seasoned, and during that [fishing was very tough] the coin dropped. i compare it to learning to swing a golf club the correct way. basically i watched everyone else one entire day [we were all in boats] and cast just a whatever pattern...i relaxed and focused on casting, what they did and what i did not do, etc. it started coming. it was like after i sorta gave into the frustration and wind knots and snagged trees and lost flies, it started to click. after that at least i could cast a little, i started learning about bugs, did a few guided trips and found some fishing pals and asked a million questions, found a good fly shop that gave good advice... 15 years later i still learn an incredible amount every year. this site is a fantastic resource that i wish i had back then, that's for sure. keep at it my friend, the rewards are tremendous.

my go to shop whenever i need anything. dave & nancy & co. are top notch, i send everyone i know there. fortunately it's also really close to my house.

Bubbles: it's Samsquanch Ricky and there's one right out my fackin' door right now he's tryin' to get into my shed!

i got the olympus. best buy had the 8 MP [i think that's the starting point now] on for $270. the 10 MP was another $100. it's waterproof to 3 meters, freezeproof to like -10 or something and shockproof. i bought it as a buddy has one for since xmas and said it's pretty bulletproof - he has dropped it onto concrete, had it in mud & sandy conditions, etc. i got to figure out how to use it properly and take decent underwater shots now, some that have been posted here look awesome.

a scrappy little brown - first brown so far this year [?!]

bought one of those olympus cameras last week and was dying to get some shots...was out the last 4 nights in a row and got skunked all 4. wtf. started thinkin it was the camera curse, but broke it in last night: managed to land a few on a streamer after dark. still working out the kinks but it's a start. love the camera.

LOVE this thread. i too like many have gone for a swade, mine was in very early spring near Canmore many years ago. stupidly tried to cross the river, but apart from the heart-stopping cold water i quickly realized my waders were not going to fill up or cause me to drown, although i was worried about a log jam downstream. almost died getting back to my vehilce tho and i remember stripping completely down right beside a family on a picnic to get some warm clothes on [not pretty] - i was too hypothermic to care. since then i have actually intentionally jumped into the river with my waders on to retrieve a hat [hey, it's a lucky hat], and again apart from getting a little wet i was never in any danger. plus it was a nice day in August. like Harps posted, the key is: don't panic, feet downstream, backrow with your arms and kick your way to the shore when you can.

i stayed at a lodge up there several times, and even though we were all [thankfully] guided there, on a few trips the guides were restricted by the fish master as to what areas we could fish due to weather or high seas. we also were not allowed out without the full mustang suits on, at best we were allowed to open the zipper up, and they can get quite hot. i have a buddy who stayed at another lodge [unguided] and related a story getting into some serious trouble very quickly one day near some rocks, and he is not a novice boater. i have never gone unguided...always am more comforatble letting an experienced guide pilot the boat...i can cut bait and fish like many others but i don't boat in 10'+ swells very much. really a tragic story - condolences to friends & family.

agreed! they always get my vote [and my coin].

I did not purchase it when replacing my lines this year based on some feedback from a shop that does guiding - they tried using it but replaced it on all thier outfitting gear. They did say it floats well but over time some of the drawbacks became more of an issue. good to hear another opinion.

also agree - a guide is completely unnecessary to fish cuts in the elk valley...lots of excellent walk & wade spots just off the highways.

true, but steelies ain't bull trout either